A/N: Friends? Liason doesn't really have any friends in this story... Eh. Not really what I had planned and I'm not sure that it really fits the flow of the story, but here it is. Thanks, as always, for all the wonderful feedback, it means the world. -- Jessie
Back chapters here.
FNF #12: Shattered, Part 9
Prompt: With a little help from our friends
The ringing of his cell phone was the last thing Jason wanted to hear that morning. And one glance at his caller ID and he knew he wanted to answer even less. But if he ignored his best friend, she was libel to show up on his door step.
He flipped the phone open roughly, "Yeah?"
"Jaaason! How are you this morning? Good, I hope, because I need a little favor."
"I'm busy Carly."
"You can't be too busy for me. Come on Jason, just one little thing?" she pleaded.
"What do you need?"
He scrubbed his free hand brusquely over his face as he leaned back against the granite countertop. The last thing he wanted to deal with today, of all days, was Carly and whatever crisis she had manufactured this time.
"You're the best Jason, I knew you'd help me," she exclaimed giddily, causing Jason to pull the phone from his ear and give his head a slight shake.
"I haven't agreed to anything Carly," he reminded her.
"But we both know that you will. I just need you to come with me to Manhattan today. Jax is busy with Kate and her stupid magazine and I just can't go to see Michael by myself." She put on her best devastated mother voice and knew that he'd never deny her a visit with her comatose son.
"Carly," he began, "I'd be happy to go to see Michael with you-"
"Yea! I can pick you up in ten minu-"
Jason quickly interrupted, "But it can't be today."
"Jaaason," she whined, "It has to be today! What could possibly be more important than Michael?"
Just then, Cam and Jake skidded into the kitchen, both clutching their now empty milk cups. Jason quickly pointed to his phone and raised a finger to his lips, hoping the boys would stay quiet and that Carly would remain clueless to his current living situation.
"Carly. I mean it, I can't do it today and nothing you say is going to change that."
"Alright, but Jason, you know, I'm just trying to help. You're always working, you're never happy anymore. I think it would be good for you to visit Michael. You're my best friend, I just want to help you for a change."
Jason sighed heavily into the phone. "I know you want to help Carly, but not today. I need to go."
"What's really going on Jason? You-"
"Carly, I need to go. Have a good visit with Michael." He didn't wait for her response before snapping the phone shut and slipping it into his right front pocket.
Cam and Jake were still standing in front of him with their cups and both piped up practically the instant Jason hung up.
Their simultaneous cries of "We need more milk!" had Jason grinning as he reached for their cups and filled them.
"Hey Cam? Is mom down yet?" Elizabeth had gone upstairs to shower and dress nearly an hour ago and while Jason didn't want to crown or push her, he was beginning to think that perhaps she was avoiding coming down for a reason.
"Nope, not yet. Girls take a long time Jason," the five year old announced seriously.
"I know." Jason handed Cam and Jake each a fresh cup of milk and they boys turned back for the living room to enjoy more cartoons and toy cars.
Jason remained in the kitchen for a moment, still unsure about whether he should approach Elizabeth. He glanced at the clock, realized that they still nearly forty five minutes before they needed to leave, and decided to give her a bit more time.
When Elizabeth had made the appointment with the psychiatrist Monica had recommended, a woman named Dr. Alicia Bennett, she'd been an emotional wreck.
She'd turned the phone in her hands for more then an hour before finally dialing. She'd hung up three times before finally letting the phone ring through and Jason listened as her voice cracked as she left a brief message asking the doctor to please call her back.
When the phone rang an hour later, Elizabeth practically jumped out of her skin before tossing the phone to Jason to answer. He had answered and passed the phone back to her with a terse, "Just a minute," to the doctor. She'd shaken her head furiously and only when Jason set the phone next to her and got up to leave the room did she finally pick up and actually talk to Dr. Bennett long enough to schedule an appointment for a couple of days later.
And ever since making the appointment, Elizabeth had seemed to withdraw into herself. She'd confessed late the night before, in the safety of the dark and the warmth of his arms, that she was terrified of talking, of revealing her secrets, of figuring out why she couldn't seem to shake the depression that had taken over the past year of her life.
Jason was pulled from his thoughts by a firm knock on the penthouse door that he recognized as Milo's. Not wanting Cam to try to answer himself, Jason hurried to the door only to stop short at the sight of Elizabeth, dressed in jeans and vivid blue v-neck tee shirt, pulling the door open.
As stunned as he was by the slight of Elizabeth, the sight of their visitor surprised him much more.
Carly.
Carly rocked back on her heels at the sight of Elizabeth Webber answering the door of Jason's penthouse.
"What do you want Carly?" Jason asked as he stepped up beside Elizabeth, his right hand resting softly against her lower back.
"I was hoping to talk you into coming with my today. I certainly wasn't expecting that you would already have company," she stated coolly.
Carly moved as if to enter the penthouse but Jason stood his ground and Carly halted, not bothering to cover her surprise at being denied entrance to her best friend's home.
"You're not even going to let me in?" she whined.
"It's fine, Jason." Elizabeth said quietly. "Let her in." She turned away from Jason, and went to sit with Cam and Jake on the couch.
Carly pushed past Jason and followed Elizabeth, "I thought you left town? Aren't you supposed to be in Kansas or Montana or something?"
"Denver, actually, but no, we never left."
Jason hated how small and defeated Elizabeth sounded. She hadn't sounded like that to him in days, at least, and all he wanted was to get Carly out before Elizabeth refused to keep her appointment with Dr. Bennett and the entire day was blown to hell.
"Carly," Jason warned stepping up next to the domineering blonde. "Don't say anything you're going to regret. Especially in front of my sons."
"Your…" she stopped." Are they living here, Jason?"
"Yes. And you're going to be nice. Say goodbye and next time, call first." His voice was gruff and almost stilted; Jason was angry and Carly knew it.
"Cam, Jake, let's go upstairs and see if we can find Candyland for Spinelli, alright?" Elizabeth shot Jason a pointed glance as she nudged Jake with her hand and then disappeared up the stairs.
Jason turned to Carly, his blue eyes icy, "Don't start with me Carly. Not today."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Jason just stared at her.
"Your son is here, Jake is living in your house, and you didn't tell me. I'm your best friend Jason."
"No one knows that Elizabeth and the boys are here Carly, everyone but Milo and Spinelli think she and the boys moved out of Port Charles and it needs to stay that way."
Jason sunk down to the couch and looked up at Carly, "You can't tell anyone, not even Jax," he warned.
Carly moved to sit next to Jason, sensing that much more was going on then Jason was going to tell her, and laid one hand gently over his knee. "I won't tell anyone. I promise."
"Thanks Carly." He met her eyes and held the contact for a moment before rising to his feet and moving to the door.
"I'm going, but Jason, call if you need anything, alright?"
"I will," Jason answered as he held the door open and watched Carly exit the penthouse.
He pushed the door closed with a deep sigh and turned to find Elizabeth on the stairs, watching him.
"I'm really sorry, Elizabeth. I had no idea she was going to show up here."
"I know."
"Are you alright?" He stepped toward her but stopped abruptly at the bottom of the staircase.
"No. But it's not Carly." She sat down on the third step from the bottom and rested her chin on her knees.
"I couldn't stay hidden here forever, Jason. I'm sure all of Port Charles will know by dinnertime." She couldn't help the sigh that escaped, "I just didn't need this today, on top of everything else."
"Carly isn't going to tell anyone that you're here. She promised and I think she knew I was serious when I asked her to keep it to herself."
Elizabeth shook her head, not wanting to doubt Jason but unable to believe Carly. "It doesn't matter."
"What do you mean, it doesn't-" Jason was interrupted as the front door swung opening and Spinelli burst forth, insisting he wasn't more then a minute late.
"Spinelli, slow down." Jason commanded.
"The Jackal offers his most humble apologies for being just a moment or two late." He tipped his head down in front of Elizabeth and Jason swore he was about to bow at her feet. But it made Elizabeth smile and that was all Jason ever wanted to see.
"It's fine, Spinelli, the boys are upstairs, setting up Candyland, I think," he glanced at Elizabeth and she nodded her agreement. "Thanks for staying with them today. We appreciate it."
Jason offered his hand to Elizabeth, "You ready?" he asked as she took his hand and pulled herself to her feet.
"No. But let's go anyway."
Avi Courtesy of Her Royal Highness Katy, Queen of Smilies!
Member of The Magnificent Eleven
